Silk Route

Standing tall in her perfectly pleated Kanjeevaram,new bride Rohini Sharma made a pretty picture.

The shiny fabric rules at the Silk Mark Expo 2011

Standing tall in her perfectly pleated Kanjeevaram,new bride Rohini Sharma made a pretty picture. Apparently,the peacock-green silk sari was the architects first choice for a formal dinner. I am all for traditional weaves,and handpicked the saris in my trousseau, she says. She is not alone in her fascination with silk. SL Jain,assistant director of Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI),Ministry of Textiles,says,In terms of the sales of silk,Chandigarh ranks second in the country. SMOI is holding the Silk Mark Expo 2011 at Kisan Bhawan,Sector 35,till January 19.

Though handloom fabric is said to be the choice of the fashionista for its ethnic and intellectual image,silk has shown a surprising resilience. The demand for silk in the country and for exports is currently pegged at 22,000 metric tonnes. Last years sale at the fair was worth Rs 5.5 crore. We hope to touch Rs 7 crore this time around, says Jain.

The six-day festival brings 60 exhibitors together this year,offering fabrics ranging from fine Mulberry and Assamese Muga to Tussar and Errandi. Among those who made it to the exhibition on the first day was Kamalpreet Kaur Bains,a lecturer. I look forward the Expo as it offers certified silk fabric and not Chinese rip-offs, she says.

The expo is also a draw for city-based designers. Designer Kanchan Sharma,who sources silk directly from the weavers in Benaras,vouches for the popularity of silk. I work a lot with silk as I like its rich look and the fact that its versatile and yet traditional, she says.

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